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A. L. V. Manniche. 



the hill side and then begins to snuff and scrape for food. This 

 consists essentially of the subterranean juicy stalks and roots of 

 Salix arctica, which the hare highly appreciates. The animal may 

 therefore often be seen busy getting this food, when the earth is 

 thawed up. 



I have often at a distance of but a few paces witnessed this 

 interesting work. The hare selects by means of the nose the most 

 promising place and then goes to work scratching away the upper 

 layer of earth using its fore limbs with a surprising skill and 



Fig. 16. Alpine hares. April 1907. 



vigour; thereupon it makes its way — by means of its nose — to 

 the desired delicacy which it triumphantly hauls up sometimes in 

 pieces of some 20—30 cm. length. 



Now the hare sits with a dignified air and half closed eyes — 

 evidently envied by its surrounding companions — enjoying the 

 juicy meal, the longmoulted willow root still hanging out of the 

 mouth like a cigar. 



The energetic masticating motions could distinctly be heard like 

 a weak rustling. Soon the last rest of the willow root disappears 

 and the hare again begins to search and snuff, but first it removes 

 the dirt from its muzzle either by aid of the fore paws, or by 

 rubbing it against the turf or a clump of snow. 



